Okwong and Gaita top the Entebbe Golf Opens

National team player Titus Okwong carded 221 gross over 54 holes to win the second edition of the Stanbic Entebbe Golf Open at Entebbe Club on Saturday.

Okwong edged fellow team players Samuel Bazaale and Peter Tumusiime, who tied for second by a stroke, to claim his first Entebbe gong, following his recent win at the Kenya Tea Fields Championship in Kericho.

Titus Okwong (2nd right) receives his prizes from Stanbic Bank's Aggie Konde (2nd left) alongside Entebbe Club chairman Jacob Byamukama (left) and Captain Serwano Walusimbi after he won the Stanbic Entebbe Open at Entebbe Club, November 2, 2024. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

With top players Joseph Cwinya-ai and Joseph Akena away on national duty in Zimbabwe, there was no denying Okwong’s victory, though he had to dig deep to edge his opponents in the tightly contested event.

Okwong notched 8 birdies overall, and an eagle on the par-5 hole-15 in the last round to claim his first Entebbe Club overall gong, a victory that came with a sh2m prize. Bazaale took home sh1.25m, with the Tumusiimes (Peter and Michael) finishing third and fourth, respectively, taking home the other share of the sh4m kitty.

Okwong attributed his change in fortunes to four new clubs he received from his younger brother Emmanuel Jakisa, including a Ping G30 driver and a couple of wedges, as well as a three-iron gifted to him by Godfrey Nsubuga, who are currently based in the US.

“It is a sweet one, but it didn’t come on a silver plate. I had to chase Joseph Kasozi and Peter Tumusiime from day one, and yet I didn’t start well,” Okwong said.

Titus Okwong (seated centre) the overall winner is joined by the other top players of the day after the Stanbic Entebbe Open at Entebbe Club, November 2, 2024. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“But there is something about winning. It gives you a level of confidence that feeds into other aspects of one’s game. It started with the Uganda Open. My performance there kind of fed into my style, it kept on compounding, and that’s how I ended up winning Kericho.

“And I reasoned that if I could finish third in the Uganda Open, I could do it in Kericho, and when I was coming to Entebbe, I told the guys that since Joseph Cwinya-ai and Reagan Akena, who were ahead of me in the Uganda Open, are not here, I was going to win.

“I followed the idiom that says when the cats are away, the mice will play, and indeed I pulled it off. I salute them because their competition helps us to improve.

“I would like to thank the sponsors Stanbic and the Entebbe Club for sparing some cash for the amateurs because it is from such winnings that we invest in other events to be able to compete,” Okwong stated.

Okwong said his back-to-back wins had improved his world ranking tremendously, helping him get invitations to exclusive world amateur events.

In the professionals’ event played over 72 holes, Rodwell Gaita successfully defended his title by edging Phillip Kasozi after a sudden-death playoff, after they both carded 286 over the four rounds.

A long putt on the first hole of sudden death (the par-3 hole-10) set Gaita on course, with him getting par to Kasozi’s bogey after both missed the green from their tee shots. But it turned out to be the difference after both players bogeyed the par-4 hole-17 before they both produced par on the 18th.

“Kasozi is a good player and a very good striker of the ball, but going into the sudden death, I had much confidence because my putting was on, despite having dropped a few shots over the four days,” Gaita said, who pocketed sh6m out of the sh40m kitty.

“But it wasn’t easy, I started badly by picking two bogies on the first day, played one-over the second day, played level the third day, and brought one-under the last day. It was a bit hard for me because I haven’t played like this before, but I kept faith in myself. My putting was on point, my driving wasn’t bad, and my wedge was very good over the four days,” Gaita noted.

When Kenyan golfer Dismas Indiza led after the third round, everyone thought he would nick it like he always does in similar tournaments with his come-from-behind antics. But he played 7-over in the last round, leaving it for the Ugandans.

“I gave myself a chance to play much better than him so that I could see myself in the pressure group on day four. Coming into the championship, I expected less, but I kept it calm, thinking just keeping the pace with the guys, hoping something good might happen, and it did,” Gaita stated.

He hopes to join Ronald Rugumayo on the Sunshine Tour trail in South Africa next year. The professionals’ tournament attracted three golfers from Rwanda and eleven from Kenya.

Top ten amateurs

Titus Okwong 76 72 73 221

Samuel Bazaale 78 71 73 222

Peter Tumusiime 76 72 74 222

Michael Tumusiime 77 76 70 223

Abdallah Kakooza 71 78 74 223

Joseph Kasozi 73 75 75 223

Andrew Ssekibejja 81 72 73 226

Lawrence Walakira 79 76 73 228

Abdu Kakeeto 75 76 77 228

Ibrahim Bagalana 78 76 75 229

Top ten Professionals

Rodwell Gaita (UG) 73 72 71 70 286

Phillip Kasozi (UG) 72 68 76 70 286

David Kamulindwa (UG) 72 72 71 72 287

Abraham Ainamani (UG) 75 71 79 66 291

Jastas Madoya (KE) 71 74 72 74 291

Erick Ooko (KE) 76 73 73 70 292

Celestine Nsanzuwera (RW) 76 70 74 72 292

Dismas Indiza (KE) 70 74 70 78 292

Davis Kato (UG) 74 76 70 73 293

Ronald Otile (UG) 78 73 73 70 294

Silver Opio (UG) 71 76 75 72 294